Since time immemorial, British actresses have made their mark in Hollywood. We have had legends such as Judi Dench, Emma Thompson, and Helen Mirren. We have also witnessed the rise of contemporary stars such as Kate Winslet, Sienna Miller, and Naomi Harris. One more person who is seeking to emulate these illustrious footsteps is Poppy Drayton. This delicately-formed English Rose first commenced her career on the stage in 2012. She has since featured in several movies and TV series and has garnered fans both in the UK, US, and across the world.
What was Poppy Drayton’s Childhood Like?
Poppy Gabriella Drayton was born on the 7th of June 1991 in Surrey, England. Her nationality is, therefore, British, while her ethnicity is Caucasian. There is a paucity of details concerning Drayton’s family background. There is also not much information about how her formative years panned out. You can, however, trust that we will update you as more details come to light.
Before delving into the movie industry, Drayton first honed her acting skills at ArtsEd, an independent performing school located in Chiswick, London. During her time there, she took part in several school productions, including The Glass Menagerie, where she portrayed the role of Laura Wingfield, and As You Like It, where she played Rosalind.
Poppy Drayton Career Beginnings and Rise to Stardom
On completing her schooling, Poppy Drayton initially occupied herself with the theatre circuit and appeared in a 2012 production of Romeo and Juliet. She subsequently made her screen debut in a 2012 short film titled Emily. Unlike most of her peers, Drayton did not have to wait long for her breakthrough, which came in the 2013 Hallmark Channel movie, When Calls The Heart. When Calls The Heart revolved around Elizabeth Thatcher, a young British teacher who is posted to a small coal-mining town in Canada.
The high-class lady initially finds it hard to adapt to her local environs but eventually falls in love with a mountain police constable named Edward Montclair. When Calls The Heart featured the likes of Daniel Sherman, while Drayton portrayed the lead role of Elizabeth. Her excellent leading performance earned her rave reviews and endeared her to American audiences. It also fetched her a guest role on the popular British period drama, Downton Abbey, in 2013.
In the 2-hour Christmas day special (Downton Abbey), Drayton plays the role of Madeline, daughter of the scheming Lord Aysgarth. Aysgarth is hard up for funds and thus encourages his daughter to spend time with a rich, middle-aged playboy named Harold Levinson. The movie features an ensemble cast and Drayton has disclosed that it was ridiculously insane to work with them.
Her Role in Little Mermaid Remains Her Biggest Ever
Since her 2013 breakthrough, Poppy Drayton has gone on to acquire an impressive filmography. On the big screens, she has featured in movies such as Unhallowed Ground, Writers Retreat, The Rising Hawk, etc. Her biggest movie role, however, remains the 2018 fantasy adventure film, Little Mermaid. In the movie, Drayton portrayed the lead role of Elizabeth, an enslaved mermaid, who later makes it back to the ocean with the help of her human friends.
On the small screens, Drayton has featured in TV series such as Charmed, Midsomer Murders, Plebs, and The Shannara Chronicles. The Shannara Chronicles is an MTV fantasy series, which debuted in 2016. In the series, Drayton played the lead role of Amberle, an elven princess who is the first female to be selected as part of the elite security guard known as The Chosen. Amberle dedicates herself to protecting the world from demons and ultimately lays down her life in that regard.
Poppy Drayton has thus far received some awards in the course of her career. One of them is the John Gielgud Award, which is presented by the American Shakespearean Guild in recognition of excellence in the dramatic arts. The Little Mermaid star has also received the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. This was instituted by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip, and is awarded to youths, who complete a series of self-improvement exercises.
Other Captivating Facts about Poppy Drayton
1. The actress is an environmental activist and often tweets about issues such as a reduction in carbon footprint, as well as the use of plastics.
Our excessive use of plastic is polluting our waterways, contaminating our soil and harming our sealife.
— Poppy Drayton (@PoppyDrayton)
2. She is a professionally trained dancer with expertise in ballet, jazz, and tap dancing.
3. Her star sign is Gemini, and she has an average height of 5 feet 6 inches (1.68m)
4. The actress does not have a public Instagram account, but you can find her on Twitter @PoppyDrayton.
5. Drayton has twice portrayed characters bearing the name Elizabeth. This was in Little Mermaid and When Calls the Heart.
